Video clip program guide

ABSTRACT

A system interactively controlled by a TV viewer remote control transmitter displays, on demand by the viewer and on the viewer&#39;s display screen, descriptive data and a video clip related to a program identified on the program guide. A tuner receives TV radio frequency or optical transmission signals in a plurality of cable channels and passes a viewer usable signal of any selected one of the channels to a signal combiner. A computer receives any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It also controls the tuner to pass the viewer usable signal of any selected channel in response to one of the control signals from the TV viewer remote control transmitter. It also receives and stores an input picture image signal containing local program guide data and descriptive data and video clips related to selected ones of the programs identified in the program guide data. The computer also generates an output picture image signal consisting of at least a portion of the input picture image signal. The viewer, by use of the remote, controls the computer to select the content of the output picture image signal to include the descriptive data and video clip of a selected program. The signal combiner combines the viewer usable signal of any selected channel from the tuner with the output picture image signal from the computer to provide a display signal with the selected descriptive data and video clip superimposed over the channel programming display for input to the viewer&#39;s display screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to interactive video communications andmore particularly concerns viewer controlled channel programming guidedisplays.

Programming guide information is presently displayed to the home TVviewer in non-interactive pages or scrolls of characters conveyingprogramming guide information.

In present programming guide systems, video clip displays of selectedprogram content are available only at the direction and control of theprogramming source and not the viewer. Unless a viewer happens to tuneto the programming guide display at a time a video clip is beingpresented, no video clip information is available to the viewer.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a process andin-home video guide hardware by which a home viewer may interactivelycontrol a channel programming guide. Another object of this invention isto provide a process and in-home video guide hardware in which a homeviewer may, at the viewer's demand, elect to view a video clip relatedto one or more programs identified on the channel programming guide.Another object of this invention is to provide a process and in-homevideo guide hardware which identifies those programs displayed on thechannel programming guide for which video clips are available on requestby the viewer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a system interactively controlled by aTV viewer remote control transmitter displays, on demand by the viewerand on the viewer's display screen, descriptive data and a video cliprelated to a program identified on the program guide. A tuner receivesTV radio frequency or optical transmission signals in a plurality ofcable channels and passes a viewer usable signal of any selected one ofthe channels to a signal combiner. A computer receives any of aplurality of control signals from the TV viewer remote controltransmitter. It also controls the tuner to pass the viewer usable signalof any selected channel in response to one of the control signals fromthe TV viewer remote control transmitter. It also receives and stores aninput picture image signal from the tuner containing local program guidedata and descriptive data and video clips related to selected ones ofthe programs identified in the program guide data. The computer alsogenerates an output picture image signal consisting of at least aportion of the input picture image signal. The viewer, by use of theremote, controls the computer to select the content of the outputpicture image signal to include the descriptive data and video clip of aselected program. The signal combiner combines the viewer usable signalof any selected channel from the tuner with the output picture imagesignal from the computer to provide a display signal with the selecteddescriptive data and video clip superimposed over the channelprogramming display for input to the viewer's display screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a preferred embodiment of thehardware of the interactive program guide with descriptive data andvideo clip capability;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the basic process and options of thedescriptive and video clip capability of the interactive program guide;

FIG. 3 is a representation of an interactive program guide main menudisplay permitting access to program guide data;

FIG. 4 is a representation of the interactive program guide data displayin a mode in which the viewer may select the date of programmingdesired;

FIG. 5 is a representation of the interactive program guide data displayin a mode in which the viewer may select the time of programmingdesired;

FIG. 6 is a representation of the interactive program guide data displayin a mode in which the viewer may select the program desired;

FIG. 7 is a representation of the interactive program guide data displayin which the viewer has selected a program for which a video clip aswell as descriptive data is available; and

FIG. 8 is a representation of the interactive program guide data displayin which the description data and video clip are displayed.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferredembodiment and process, it will be understood that it is not intended tolimit the invention to that embodiment or process. On the contrary, itis intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents asmay be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning first to FIG. 1, the components of the interactive program guideare illustrated. A computer 11 having a command information receiver,preferably an infrared or radio frequency receiver 13, provides acontrol signal 15 to a tuner 17 and a picture image signal 19 to adigital video board 21. The tuner 17 converts or demodulates radiofrequencies or optical transmissions to a signal usable by the viewer tooutput a signal 23 selected from a plurality of signals 25 input to thetuner 17 from the cable source (not shown), typically frequency divisionmultiplexed video, audio and data signals transmitted via a coaxialcable, over-the-air radio frequencies or fiber optics. The digital videoboard 21 converts digital data into a video signal. The tuner output orbase programming signal 23 has superimposed thereon an informationpicture image signal 27 from the digital video board 21 in a genlocksignal combiner or overlayer 29 to produce a video display signal 31 tothe viewer's display screen 33 of the viewer's television. Theinformation picture image signal 27 includes written description orwritten description and video clip segments providing a briefdescription and preview of one or more selected programs included in thevideo guide programming schedule. In each video clip segment, scenesfrom the selected program are provided to give the viewer an idea of theprogram content. An icon is displayed with the title of those programson the programming schedule for which both descriptive information and avideo clip are available. If a video clip is selected, the descriptionand the clip will continue. The viewer sends commands to the receiver 13to control the operation of the computer 11 and select the video clip tobe displayed by the use of a remote control transmitter, preferably aninfrared or radio frequency transmitter 35. The computer 11 is based onmicroprocessor and may utilize random access (RAM) and/or read only(ROM) memory. The software necessary to operate the microprocessor maybe embedded in the device or downloaded via the cable system to thedevice.

The above described interactive program guide components operate inresponse to the control of the computer 11. While the home viewer iswatching programming presented on his display 33 in response to thetuner 17 feeding any basic program signal 23 from the input selections25 to the genlock combiner 29, the viewer may opt to simultaneously viewthe programming guide information available to the combiner 29 from thecomputer 11 through the digital video board 21. The viewer simplypresses a predetermined key on the remote 35 to select the "ProgramGuide" display. As shown in FIG. 3, the "Program Guide" nomenclaturewill appear on the screen with other main menu information such as"Program Search" or "Custom Setup", as shown on the screen. Preferably,and as shown, the menu automatically defaults to the "Program Guide"selection. At this juncture, the viewer presses a predetermined key onthe remote 35, such as the highlight button, to enter the "ProgramGuide" program as is illustrated in the display of FIG. 4. Preferably byuse of up or down arrows, the viewer then selects the date for whichprogramming is desired. As shown, the user has selected May 12 as thedate of programming.

Turning to FIG. 5, the viewer next selects the time slot of programmingdesired, preferably by using the right arrow to sequence through thetimes available. The time selected will be highlighted and, as shown inFIG. 5, the viewer has selected the 9:00 am time slot. By pressinganother predetermined key on the remote 35, such as the highlightbutton, the user can now highlight or identify the program at which theguide is presently set, as shown in FIG. 6. Then, by use ofpredetermined keys on the remote 35, preferably the up or down arrows,the viewer can move the highlight cursor to select a program containingan icon which indicates that a video clip is available with respect tothat particular program. The highlight was originally set at the program"Settle the Score" as shown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 7, the user has shiftedthe highlight down to the program "The Beverly Hillbilly's" whichincludes an icon 40 indicating that a video clip is available. Theviewer then presses a predetermined key on the remote 35, such as thehighlight button, to cause the written description and video cliprelated to the selected program to be displayed on the video screen 33.This is illustrated in FIG. 8.

In accomplishing this display, as shown in FIG. 2, when the viewer hasselected the program to preview 41, the video clip routine of thecomputer 11 inquires "does a preview for program exist" 43. If theanswer to this inquiry is "NO" 45, the routine proceeds through a"display description page" 47 in which only the written descriptionavailable with respect to the program is displayed. As shown, thisdisplay will continue through a "wait for user exit" period 49 until theviewer leaves this mode by pressing a predetermined key on the remote 35such as the exit key to "exit out description page" 60. If the responseto the inquiry, "does a preview for program exist" 43 is "YES" 51, thecomputer 11, will then "load video preview" 53 through the digital videoboard 21 to the genlock 29 for combination with the signal 23 from thetuner 17. The viewer's video display 33 will then, in the "displaydescription page" step 55 and the "start video playing step" 57, causethe video clip to be played in a continuous loop in simultaneous displaywith the written description. This display will continue through "waitfor user exit" period 59 thus continuing the display until the viewerleaves this mode by pressing a predetermined key on the remote 35, suchas the exit key to "exit out of description page" 60.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance withthe invention, a video clip program guide that fully satisfies theobjects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention hasbeen described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it isevident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will beapparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the foregoingdescription. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system interactively controlled by a TV viewerremote for displaying video clips related to selected programsidentified on a program guide on the viewer's display screencomprising:a tuner having an input for receiving TV signals in aplurality of cable channels and an output for passing a signal of aselected one of said channels; a computer having input means forreceiving any of a plurality of control signals from the TV viewerremote, output means for controlling said tuner to pass said signal of aselected one of said channels in response to one of said plurality ofcontrol signals from said TV viewer remote and means for receiving andstoring an input picture image signal from said tuner containing localprogram guide data and video clips related to selected programsidentified by said program guide data and for generating an outputpicture image signal including any selected one of said video clips; andmeans for combining said passed signal and said output picture imagesignal to provide a display signal for input to the viewer's displayscreen, said computer being responsive to a control signal from saidremote to determine the presence of a selected video clip signal and tocombine said selected video clip signal with said passed signal whensaid presence of said selected video clip signal is determined.